Chapter 618 - What is Divinity?
Will, he understood.
Perhaps not perfectly, but enough to define it in some way.
It could be described as an intangible force born from one's will.
But then, what is divinity?
And magic?
Even those accustomed to learning and mastering through physical means weren't without intellect.
After all, they had each surpassed certain thresholds in their respective fields, achieving insights.
Surely, they must have some understanding.
"That's a good question."
Luagarne nodded in agreement.
Audin responded with a gentle smile.
"What does the Captain Brother think?"
Enkrid considered several answers.
Ultimately, he came up with this one—a question and a doubt that preceded concerns about the utility or peculiarities of divinity.
"An unreasonable, incomprehensible force filled with questions. If gods exist, why don't they act themselves and instead lend their power?"
Perhaps this stemmed from the chaotic barrage of questions thrown by Muel right before his demise.
Or maybe it was simply a thought Enkrid had harbored all along.
He had never delved deeply into the presence or absence of gods before, but if asked now, this was the question he would want to ask.
If gods exist, why don't they intervene?
From a question about what divinity is, it evolved into an ontological inquiry.
Does the existence of divinity prove the existence of gods?
That, too, was embedded in the question.
Digging deeper, it could even be interpreted as a rejection of theology itself.
In an era where faith spanned the entire continent, it wasn't the kind of question one dared to ask.
Especially not to someone clearly of priestly or holy knight origins.
"Well, that's bold."
Even Rem, watching from the side, couldn't help but comment.
Everyone subtly glanced at Audin, unsure if he would explode in anger.
"That's blasphemy, Brother."
Even with leniency, this much could have been said.
Yet, Audin did not react that way.
A snowflake silently landed on Audin's head and shoulder, melting away.
His face remained adorned with a faint smile, as benevolent as always.
"It is we who live on this land. Rather than hoping for gods to descend and clear the snow before us, should we not clear the snow that lies ahead of us ourselves?"
Contrary to everyone's concerns, Audin felt no offense.
Had the words come from the Barbarian Brother, the Wayward Brother, or the Stray Cat Brother, would he have felt insulted?
Perhaps not.
Even if they had spoken, it would likely have felt more like provocation than true affront.
He could understand why they might say such things.
For Enkrid to voice such words—words understandable even if uttered by Rem, Ragna, or Jaxen—was a different matter.
Audin understood deeply.
"To act and walk ahead—isn't it natural for him to ask?"
Such was the kind of man Enkrid was.
He bore no resentment for the lack of divine aid but could question all those who refused to act, even if they were gods.
Of course, voicing such a question in a theocratic state would result in cries of blasphemy and chaos.
More extreme individuals might call for immediate inquisitions.
"Would that happen even now?"
No.
If Enkrid had said such things, anger would have risen, but oppressing him with power would not be possible.
After all, Overdier wouldn't allow it.
Audin had always known this from traveling with him, but seeing how quickly Overdier had aligned himself with Enkrid this time confirmed it further.
"It's clear which side he's chosen."
Such a man would not brand Enkrid a heretic over mere words.
Even without Overdier, Enkrid had the backing of Naurilia.
The king had always been on Enkrid's side.
And even if strength was used, the sheer personal might of Enkrid, along with his band of Madmen, made subjugation an impractical endeavor.
Enkrid wasn't accusing anyone; he had merely posed a question born of pure curiosity and wonder.
Upon hearing the answer, he found it reasonable and instinctively nodded.
"That's true."
"No, you nodding like that doesn't mean you suddenly understand everything."
Rem, wearing a slightly exasperated expression, added a comment.
"That's true as well."
Enkrid nodded again, his indifferent demeanor somehow grating.
"Now you're just doing it to annoy me, aren't you?"
Rem retorted.
"Sharp, aren't you?"
Shinar praised the barbarian's perceptiveness with a chuckle.
"You're right."
Enkrid said as he nodded once more, causing Rem to temporarily shed his warm hide in frustration.
Even so, it didn't halt their sparring.
Audin smiled to himself, reflecting inwardly.
'It seems I've ended up repeating what I learned from the Captain Brother.'
The answer he had just given was, in fact, one he had gleaned from watching Enkrid.
Repeating it in reverse gave Audin a sense of nostalgia.
He had seen a man burn through today with meager talent.
That sight had ended his own wandering, leading him to where he stood now.
Even his decision to break the taboo had been shaped by observing how Enkrid lived his life.
"So, why did you come back?"
Still seeking to cool off, Rem directed the question at Audin.
"Hmm."
Audin pretended to think for a moment, gazing at the distant sky.
Breaking the taboo could have allowed him to return as a holy knight, but he had no intention of returning to the fold of the god of war.
He wasn't foolish enough to misunderstand where he truly belonged.
"Are you afraid of being scolded? Is that it?"
Rem pressed further.
Audin nodded and replied.
"That's true as well."
The motion was identical to the one Enkrid had made earlier.
"…Damn it, have all these bastards gone mad? Fine, let's all die today.
To hell with captains and all that.
The order disbands today."
"On whose authority?
Why don't you just head back to the west?
Oh, wait—you stayed behind because you couldn't find your way back?
Want me to guide you?
Out of the kindness I still have left, I'll take you as far as the front."
Ragna's interruption naturally brought the argument to a halt.
Inevitably, it led to a sparring session.
Enkrid, the most excited of the group, was the first to dismount from Weird-eyes.
"Bring it on, gray-head."
"Too tired for even a proper taunt now, are we?"
It was a fair point.
While snowflakes fell quietly, Jaxen went to gather dry branches nearby.
Ropord and Fel began preparing for the campsite.
"Amusing," commented Luagarne, settling into a spot as a spectator.
Shinar sat down beside her.
"Watching my betrothed sweat it out is always entertaining."
Everyone had their quirks, but there was no harm done; it was all in good fun.
After sparring and having their evening meal, the discussion Enkrid had initiated before dismounting returned from philosophical musings to practical methodologies.
"The power granted to us by the gods to protect ourselves is different from Will," Audin explained.
As the conversation turned to divinity, a hint of theological discourse crept in, capturing everyone's attention.
Ropord, Fel, and Teresa found themselves particularly eager to learn.
Enkrid, curious as ever, shifted the discussion to Rem, asking about sorcery.
"What makes sorcery different?"
Rem explained it was easier to shape intangible forces into forms, though Ropord interjected, wondering if Will couldn't achieve the same.
"That's not the only difference."
Rem answered calmly, and the conversation flowed as everyone chipped in while going about their tasks.
They weren't doing anything grand—just the usual chores.
Jaxen brought in firewood, Esther snapped her fingers to light a flame, and Ropord and Fel skillfully set a pot over the fire, boiling water and heating stones.
Jerky was grilled, and grain powder mixed with water created a quick field meal.
After sparring, Rem returned with three rabbits, which he then prepared and cooked.
"I do have some fine wine," Audin said, pulling a few bottles from his pack.
They poured the wine into tin or wooden cups, taking sips.
Even Enkrid nodded approvingly at the fine aroma and taste.
Luagarne, on the other hand, snacked on dried grasshoppers, while Shinar enjoyed dried fruit alongside grain powder soup.
Though Frogs weren't limited to eating insects or bugs, they took pleasure in it when possible.
Once, when asked why Frogs didn't simply catch and eat flies alive in midsummer, the reply was:
"Would you eat a moving cow raw, without even draining the blood?"
While some live meals were enjoyable, flies didn't fall into that category.
Frogs, too, had a concept of cooking, even cherishing certain herbs.
Despite the busy tasks, Enkrid, Audin, and Esther—seated in human form—formed the central circle of conversation.
"Divinity is stable, is that what you're saying?" Ropord asked, taking a sip of wine and refilling his cup as Fel handed over the bottle.
The snowfall thickened, but the group had found a small cave and set up a makeshift canopy at its entrance using poles and blankets, keeping them sheltered and comfortable.
After the meal, they sat around the crackling fire, sipping wine and delving into discussions about divinity, sorcery, and Will.
Disagreements arose, but no one lost their temper; they were all skilled enough to respect each other's paths.
Playful jabs were exchanged, but no one took offense.
Amid the lively exchange, Enkrid found himself at ease.
Watching the flickering fire and falling snow, he thought
"This is fun."
It was a delicate balance between joy and contentment.
As someone who couldn't sleep for the excitement of honing his swordsmanship and techniques, moments like these were a natural delight.
While sparring brought the thrill of growth, these candid conversations were equally fulfilling.
As a child, Enkrid had imagined becoming a knight and sharing techniques, discussing weaknesses, and learning from like-minded individuals.
While they weren't actively addressing weaknesses now, the atmosphere was remarkably similar, bringing him immense joy.
He absorbed the conversation, committing their insights to memory.
One of the key takeaways was this:
Will could lead to exhaustion, but divinity did not.
"Using it can be draining, yes, but your resolve doesn't waver. It's not that your spirit falters; rather, you simply lack the capacity to accept more of the divine power granted by the gods. However, it may leave you unable to use divinity for a few days."
Sorcery, too, differed from Will.
"If you make a mistake with sorcery, it doesn't just leave you drained. At worst, you end up possessed."
"Possessed?"
"Think of it as being taken over by a god, though not the shining deities you imagine.
More like being controlled by a primal instinct or obsession.
It's hard to explain."
Fel, as a shepherd familiar with dealing with malevolent spirits, asked, "How is it different from being possessed by an evil spirit?"
"You're not following orders from an evil spirit. It's more like being driven by a primal urge or obsession. And someone under the grip of sorcery becomes far more troublesome than usual."
Enkrid couldn't fully grasp it, but his experience in the West had given him a general understanding of entities or the spirits they spoke of.
"If a gentle spirit like a bear possesses you, you might just end up eating honeycomb and suffering a stomachache. But if it's something else, the consequences can be dire."
While Will led to exhaustion, sorcery risked losing one's sense of self.
On the other hand, losing the ability to wield sorcery was rare; some even gained more power with luck.
However, no one foolish enough to recklessly deplete their sorcery energy lived long.
Comparatively, divinity's stability was remarkable, but it wasn't without drawbacks.
"It's hard to unleash in an explosive manner unless you're exceptionally talented. Think of divinity as a long, sturdy rope," Audin explained.
"Sorcery can let you exert several times your usual strength. That's probably its biggest advantage. But if you use it that way, there are always consequences."
The conversation turned to a deeper exploration of the nature of different powers.
While divine power shone in its persistence, and sorcery thrived in explosive potential during short bursts of combat, Will seemed uniquely mutable, shaped entirely by the wielder.
Sorcery, with its ability to amplify power through mediums, could inflate its strength much like exaggerating a tale.
This trait made it especially potent for swift and decisive battles.
In contrast, divine power was steady and enduring—a long and unyielding thread of strength.
When it came to Will, however, the discussion led to Ragna.
His insight was succinct yet profound.
"Will depends entirely on how the user wields it. It changes color with each individual."
As he spoke, Ragna cast a subtle glance toward Jaxen, emphasizing the vast difference in their approaches.
Unlike the relative uniformity of divine power or sorcery, Will was as varied as the individuals who utilized it.
It was this variability that explained the existence of foundational techniques like Future Sight and Endure.
These basics provided a framework, but true mastery allowed for individuality to shine.
To discuss Will, one needed to first reach a certain threshold of skill.
Without that foundation, debating its nuances was meaningless.
As the group exchanged thoughts, Enkrid found himself not merely enjoying the camaraderie but reflecting deeply.
The dialogue allowed him to revisit and refine concepts he had only vaguely understood before.
And then came the mage's perspective.
"Ultimately, the source is the same."
This insight added yet another layer to Enkrid's understanding, offering him a new lens through which to view the interplay of these powers.
It was a revelation that deepened his appreciation for the diversity and interconnectedness of their strengths.
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